Double Standard

 ' Did you hear this news, asked Mrs. Verma to her husband Mr. Verma. People are gossiping about this matter. Mr. Verma was wondering what had transpired in such a short time that became so sensational in his neighbourhood.. He was out of town for sometime and had returned home just that morning. Mrs. Verma revealed a very stunning news, and it was the news that shocked Mr. Verma too. The news was that Mr. Sharma would be getting married. You might wonder what is so shocking in this news. It is shocking obviously because Mr. Sharma was a person in his sixties, and he was a widower who had reared his son chunky single handedly. His son was educated and was doing well in his career as well. Both of them had been neighbours for quite a long time and knew about each other quite deeply. They were like friends. Mr. Verma had seen how Mr. Sharma used to teach good values and ethics to his son Chunky or Mayur, Chunky was his pet's name. Mr. Verma was surprised with the transition that Mr. Sharma underwent and got married again. The reason for this surprise was Mr. Sharma had tried to put this idea of Second marriage in his mind many times for the sake of his young son. Many others too would advise him the same and every time Mr. Sharma used to brush it off saying he had his son as a gift from his beloved wife and that was enough to pull on with this life. Marriage was a big No for him. He was sure of spending the rest of his life looking after his dear son and bringing him up as a lovely person and getting him married so that he would lead a happy and blessed life. What else any parent wants,this is what he used to say frequently and now this turn of events was so surprising. Mr. Sharma was sure there must be a strong reason for this decision and wanted to talk it out with Chunky as well as Sharma. On repeat persuasion Mr. Sharma started revealing the events that led to this decision.               

 As Mr.Verma knew Mr.Sharma, brought up his son with a lot of care, love and discipline as well. How he could manage this comby is anybody's guess. But,the boy turned out to be a good and disciplined one. As he grew up he did well in academics and was never a problem of any sort to his father. Mr.Sharma fixed his marriage once his son was capable of handling their business well.It was a family business that was thriving since a long time when chunky's grandfather had established it many many years ago..Mr.Sharma was happy that his son would lead a better life with his wife .During the day Mr.Sharma would spend his time in a nearby library reading books that were his friends since a some time or would sit at any of his friend's office or shop. His intention was to not bother his daughter in law. He would never nag about anything and would be contented with whatever she served or cooked.Life was going on well.       One day,Mr.Sharma came home for lunch. He had visited one of his ailing relative and was damn tired .Just then his son chunky too came home for lunch which was a routine habit for him. As he was washing his hands to have lunch he over heard his father asking his daughter in law,that is chunky's wife Nina, to get a cup of curd along with the food she had served, she replied saying that the curd was finished and she forgot to buy it again. Without saying a word Mr.Sharma finished his lunch and went outside. Meanwhile chunky came into the dining room and sat down for lunch. His wife Nina served him food that looked yummy along with a huge cup of fresh curd. Chunky did not speak a word. He finished his lunch and left to his office. On the way he kept thinking what his wife had done. She was not at all hesitant to say that curd could not be served when his father had asked for it while at the same time, she served it to him (chunky) without him even asking for it. He felt remorseful for what she had done and decided he would teach her a good lesson.      

 After about a week, chunky came home during lunch time and asked his father to finish his lunch and join him to go to the local family court .A puzzled Mr. Sharma asked him for what and chunky informed him that he had fixed his marriage(Mr. Sharma's).A shocked Mr.Sharma wanted to know the reason for this sudden shocking decision and continued to say that he was in no need of any life partner at this age when he was comfortable with his present state of heart and mind. He even said that now as chunky was grown up and married he anyway did not need a stepmother now. In response to these chunky said it was not for his sake nor for the sake of Mr.Sharma but it was to teach a lesson to his wife. He went on to say that he would shift to a rented house and will work as an employee at Mr.Sharma's office as he wanted his wife to understand the importance of money and relationships. He even said if parents can go to any extent to fulfill the requirements and dreams of their children and act as Reserve during any situation then why shouldn't the children stand up in support of their parents whether it is providing something as simple as a bowl of curd to giving their shoulder for the parents to rest for a while.            

 Mr. Sharma was obviously very proud of his son and his values but was not happy to stay away from his son and was not at all happy to get married again.Well this is life which shows us so many shades of grey and pink.